Title: Lie to Me – Truth Comes At A Cost
Author: D M Harper
Summary: The Lightman Group is brought in to investigate the murder of a United States Army soldier when the main suspect refuses to cooperate with Military Investigators.
Pairing: Gillian Foster & OFC
Rating: M for Mature Readers.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction created to entertain. No profit is made and no copyright infringement is intended. All characters except original (I claim those) are owned by creator Samuel Baum, Imagine Television, Middkidd Productions & Samuel Baum Productions.
Author's Note: Please take the time to review.
Chapter 11
Jumping out of the old model blue Ford F-150 truck, Jordan followed Sergio Morales into the local bar and met up with her fellow work members. Most she knew from her previous visits home except for one man. Luke Howard could best be described as an egotistical show off. He was good looking with shoulder length blond hair and his body was built for hard labour.
Jordan had taken an instant dislike to his "look at me" attitude and avoided him at every possible opportunity. To her chagrin, he tried to initiate several conversations which all began with the opening line, "what's a gorgeous girl like you doing working in all this grime?"
The first time Jordan was subjected to the phrase, she ignored it. The second saw her give him a glare then say, "The money." The last time Jordan had been more direct, "Hey Howard, give it a rest, I'm not interested."
Howard seemed to have taken the hint and ceased pestering her until she approached the bar counter to order a club soda. It was Friday afternoon and her last shift with McLean's Oil Company and she was looking forward to a quiet wind down.
Sidling up to her, Howard offered, "Let me buy you that drink J.J."
"No thanks, I've got it covered and please don't make a fool of yourself. I'm not impressed by your school boy antics, so keep your distance."
"Wow, you're a real ball buster, aren't you?"
"No, I'm just not into jerks that constantly blow their own trumpet." Jordan collected her change from the bartender, "Thanks Phil." She went over to the table where Sergio was sitting with four other workers.
"I see Howard is still trying his luck," noted Ralf Morton.
"He's an ass," declared Jordan while taking a seat.
For the next two hours, Jordan listened while the others chattered away. At six, she said her goodbyes and Sergio hugged her before she headed for the exit.
"HEY WHERE YOU GOING?" yelled Howard from across the room.
Jordan kept walking until she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey bitch, I was talking to you."
Jordan spun around and slapped an intoxicated Howard's arm away, "Don't touch me."
"You got some attitude," snapped Howard as he grabbed Jordan's right wrist.
Jordan pushed the inebriated blond's arm away again, "Leave me alone Howard."
"Come on, have a drink with me and get to know me. You'll like me once you take the time to talk to me."
Opening the door, Jordan glanced over her shoulder and sniggered, "There's not enough time for that to ever happen."
"You fucking smart mouthed slut," snarled Howard as he lunged for her.
Jordan stepped out of the way as Howard sailed past her, "You're a moron."
Howard steadied himself, turned and ran at Jordan with raised fists. Jordan stood her ground then moved at the last second and closed the door in Howard's face. He fell backwards onto the landing and Jordan walked out into the parking lot.
As she unlocked the driver's door of the F-150, she sighed when she heard Howard's voice.
"You think you're shit don't stink, hey bitch?"
"You know, I'm real tired of your insults, so back off." Jordan spotted the crowd of workers congregated outside the front door and smiled when Sergio waved to her.
"All you need to take that fight out of you is a real man," slurred Howard.
"I don't need a man, but maybe you do."
"WHY YOU WHORE," shrieked Howard as he approached her.
Jordan slammed the truck door into the advancing man and he doubled over. She ended any further conversation by kicking her abuser in the testicles. He toppled to the ground and Jordan calmly got into the truck and left the lot to the sound of applause.
-0-
"I just had an interesting phone call from Sergio," declared Evelyn as Jordan took off her boots at the kitchen door.
"Yeah, seems you have an employee who doesn't know how to listen."
Tittering, Evelyn responded, "Well you and I have an appointment with him Monday morning before you leave for home."
"That will be fascinating."
"I thought you'd like to be there for the surprise."
"I look forward to it ma."
"Go wash up, dinner will be ready in twenty minutes."
Jordan padded across the floor and kissed her mother's cheek, "You're the best."
-0-
Jordan was standing in front of her mother's office desk dressed in cowgirl boots, jeans and a white and blue pinstriped buttoned shirt. She was holding a white straw western hat and listening to her mother tell her PA Joseph to send Luke Howard in.
Jeans and cowboy shirt clad Howard stepped inside and was all charm, "Good morning Mrs Stevens, J.J."
"Let's get straight to the point Howard," began Evelyn. "I believe you behaved poorly at Phil's Friday afternoon."
"Yes ma'am, I'd drunk a little too much and my conversation may have been misconstrued by J.J."
Evelyn rifled through tens of pages on her desk, "I have over thirty statements from patrons saying that you approached Jordan and proceeded to force yourself upon her in an ungentlemanly manner."
"Yeah well she's a woman so everybody automatically takes her side of things. She's been here two weeks and has the others eating out of her hand. I suppose it's only natural you would believe her too."
Evelyn stood and leaned her hands on the desk, "I think you're a lying leech Howard and even without all these statements, I have the security footage from the bar and the fact I know Jordan would never lie to me."
"How can you say that? She's been here fourteen days."
"Howard, meet United States Army Major Jordan Stevens, my daughter."
The colour drained from Howard's face, "Jesus Christ."
Jordan smirked and dipped her head, "Howdy moron."
Gulping, Howards stated the obvious, "I suppose I'm fired?"
"Yes you are, so go see payroll and collect what's owing to you," answered Evelyn.
"Hey Howard," said Jordan. "A word of advice, when a woman tells you she's not interested, she means it."
Without another word, Howard turned and left the office.
Evelyn shook her head, "Mr Charm forgot to mention this is the second time he's been in this office for being obnoxious with a female."
"He's a one hundred percent dickwad and you can do without the likes of him around here."
"Yes it seems like we are less two jerks now."
"Speaking of the Senator, has he contacted you yet?"
"No, but his lawyer called just before you arrived. Jackson won't contest the divorce as long as I don't talk to the media."
"Well that's typical of him to be thinking about himself."
Evelyn laughed, "Yes. I told Evan to pass on to his client to go fuck himself and if he doesn't sign the papers, I'll hold a press conference and disclose every dirty little secret he's got."
"Way to go ma." Jordan moved to her mother and hugged her.
"I should have done this years ago; it's very liberating."
"I'm just glad you have."
"I guess we better get you to the airport."
"Yep and don't forget I'll be at the Hamptons on Wednesday."
"I won't and you and I are going to relax."
-0-
